Page 336 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

334  GA UTENG , LIMPOPO AND MPUM ALANGA

1 Dullstroom vervet monkey
are present,
Road map E2. Middelburg. * 500.
∑ dullstroom.co.za along with
250 bird
Chilly Dullstroom, set at an species. Chimp
altitude of 2,076 m (6,811 ft), is Eden, 15 km
the site of the country’s highest (9 miles) along
railway station, and experiences the R40, is the
winter temperatures that drop setting
to -13°C (9°F). It is best-known as of South
South Africa’s top destination for Africa’s only
fly-fishing, an activity focused chimpanzee
on Dullstroom Dam Nature The serpentine curves of Long Tom Pass near Lydenburg sanctuary.
Reserve, which is set amidst Operated
luxuriant sub-alpine vegetation Environs by the Jane Goodall Institute,
on the town’s eastern outskirts, Some 53 km (33 miles) east of it houses 30 chimps rescued
as well as various privately- Lydenburg, Sabie is reached via from elsewhere in Africa in
owned reservoirs. The Mavun- the scenic Long Tom Pass, an three large wooded enclosures
gana Flyfishing Centre has old wagon road whose rocks overlooked by viewing platforms.
some excellent trout-stocked still bear the marks of metal- Alongside the N4, about
waters. rimmed wheel ruts. Sabie is 30 km (19 miles) east of
surrounded by plantations Mbombela, guided tours into
} Dullstroom Dam of fast-growing exotic trees, the impressive Sudwala Caves
Nature Reserve established in the 19th century lead through cool subterranean
Tel 061 762 3209. Open daily. & to provide timber for use in passages past beautiful lime-
Mavungana Flyfishing Centre the local gold mines, and its stone formations to a natural
Tel 013 254 0270 ∑ flyfishing.co.za Forestry Museum is dedicated dolomite chamber that can
to wood and its many uses. seat 500.
South of Nelspruit, Barberton
E Forestry Museum Museum was established in
Ford St, Sabie. Tel 013 764 1058. 1883 to service a short-lived
Open 8am–4:30pm Mon–Sat (to noon gold rush that led to it becoming
Sat). & ∑ komatiecotourism.co.za the first stock exchange in the
former Transvaal Republic. It
is set below the Makhonjwa
3 Mbombela Mountains, whose 3.5-billion-
year-old rocks comprise the
Road map F2. KLCBT House, cnr N4 planet’s oldest exposed strata.
and R40. * 600,000. Tel 013 755
1988. ∑ krugerlowveld.com It has an excellent history and
Tranquil dam near Dullstroom geological museum, and several
The low-lying provincial capital architectural relicts of its
of Mpumalanga, rapidly-growing Victorian heyday survive.
2 Lydenburg Mbombela (a siSwati word
meaning “Crowded Place”) is O Lowveld National
Road map F2. 58 km (36 miles) N of Botanical Garden
Dullstroom. * 37,000. an important agricultural centre
for oranges, mangoes, bananas, Madiba Drive. Tel 013 752 5531.
Lydenburg (literally “Town of avocados and macadamia nuts. Open 8am–5pm daily.
Suffering”) was founded in 1849 Formerly called Nelspruit, it has ∑ sanbi.org
by the bereaved survivors of a experienced a high level of
malaria epidemic at Ohrigstad, industrialization since the O Chimp Eden
a lower-lying Voortrekker 1990s, and has also grown in Tel 079 777 1514. 8 75-minute
settlement established four years significance as a trade funnel tours at 10am, noon & 2pm.
earlier only 50 km (31 miles) on the main road and rail route ∑ chimpeden.com
to the north. The Lydenburg between Gauteng and the
Museum houses replicas of the Mozambican capital, Maputo. } Sudwala Caves
Lydenburg Heads (see p49), seven Tel 083 446 0228. Open 8:30am–
large, unique terracotta masks Environs 4:30pm daily. 8 Hourly tours
believed to have been used in The beautifully landscaped every 15 minutes.
ceremonial rituals circa AD 700. Lowveld National Botanical ∑ sudwalacaves.co.za
Garden, on the confluence
E Lydenburg Museum of the Nels and Crocodile rivers, E Barberton Museum
Long Tom Pass Rd. Tel 013 235 2213. protects prehistoric cycads and Crown St. Tel 013 712 4208.
Open 8am–4pm Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm other plants associated with the Open 8am–5pm daily.
Sat & Sun. Closed 25 Dec. & subtropical lowveld. Hippo and ∑ barberton.co.za
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp390–91 and pp410–11

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